Reducing valve



sept. 2 1924.

1,507,262 G. A. SNYDER REDUCING VALVE sept. 2 1924. www2 G. SNYDERREDUCING VALVE Filed Deo. 5. i921 s sheets-sheet Patented Sept. 2,19234.

GEORGE A. SNYDER, OF FOSTO'RIA, OHIO.

REDUCING- VALVE.

Application filed December 5, 1921.

To @ZZ wiz/0m t 77mg/ concern.'

Be itlrnown that I, GEORGE A. SNvDnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fostoria, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Reducing Valves, ofwhich the following' is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a valve mechanisni and has particularreference to a reducing valve so constructed that fluid at a uniformpressure may be supplied from a source of higher pressure.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved reducingvalve wherein the main valve is operated by an auxiliary valve andwherein the parts may be readily manufactured and easily repaired.

A particular object of the invention is to provide in a reducing valvehaving a main valve, a plurality of auxiliary valves so arranged, withrelation to the main valve, that either auxiliary valve may be made tofunction, while the other may be disconnected and removed for repairwithout in any way impairing the etliciencyv or interfering with theoperation of the reducing valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reducing valve in whichthe valve parts may be readily repaired .or replaced and in which thevalve seats may be reground without the necessity of dismantling theentire valve. y

An additional object of the invention is to provide in connection with areducing valve, suitable means for lubricating the valve structure tothereby decrease the wear of the moving parts.

Another feature of the invention is to provide for use in a reducingvalve employing spring pressed main valve and an auxiliary valve, aseparate replaceable container for the spring of the main valve, whichcontainer is out of contact with the Huid passing through the valve sothat the injurious effects of foreign substances in the fluid passingthrough the valve cannot damage the spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide suitable means wherebythe inlet side of a reducing valve may be drained of foreign mattei' andwherein suitable screening devices may be provided to pre- Seral No.519,947.

vent the access of small particles to the auXilliary valve.

@ther objects of the invention will be apparent in the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the reducing valve constructed according tomy invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is asection partly in elevation on the line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectionon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5, Fig'. 2;Fig. 6 is a section, partly in elevation on line 6-6, Fig. 2; and Fig. 7is a section on line 7-7, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, l have shown at 10the main valve body of my reducing valve. This body is provided with aflanged extension 11 forming a high pressure inlet A and a second eX-tension 12 forming a low pressure outlet B. Communication between theinlet and outlet is shown as controlled by means of the Valve 14indicated as seating in a removable valve seat 15. The valve 14 isprovided with a stem 16 which may extend above and below the valve.

The lower extremity of vthe stem passes through a stem guide 1'? whichis secured in a casing 18. This casing is shown as attached to the lowerportion of the main valve body and is arranged to provide space toreceive a spring 20. `The stem guide 17 and casing 18 may be removablyheld in place by screw-threads or other fastening means.

IIhe spring 2O abuts at one end against the lower end of the casing andat the other end against an abutment member 21 seated on a shoulderformed on thevalve stein 16. It will thus be apparent that the spring 20serves to keep the main valve seated. A suitable pet cock 22 may bethreaded in the lower end of the spring casing 18, if desired.

The upper portion of the main valve body is shown as arranged to receivea removable main valve cylinder 26 in which a piston 25 moves. The upperextremity of the valve stem 16 is fitted in an apertured projection onthe piston 25. The cylinder is shown as provided with a shoulder 27which iits a companion shoulder .on the main valve casing but it may beheld otherwise if desired.

The chamber formed between the piston and the cylinder 26 communicatesthrough passages with the low pressure outlet. The upper end of the mainvalve casing is indicated as closed by a cap member 3l which serves tohold the cylinder in place. This cap may be 'secured by bolts, orother-means, as desired.l

-The inain kvalve casing is provided on opposite sides with outlets onthe high pressure side and With two other outlets 36 on the low pressureor outlet side oit the casing. The arrangement of the outlets 35 and 36onthe casingin pairs provides for tivo a'i'ixili-ary valve members, eachalike in detail but right and lett handed in construction so that theycan be fitted opposite each other.

Y Iii initially installing inydevice, lnovv intend to place an auxiliaryvalve on each side of the main valve. One auxiliary valve will benormally open ifo-r use While the other will he inactive. 'The auxiliaryvalve will be arranged, -however, in a manner presently vto bedescribed, so that, should it be desired, the valve in use may be putout ot operation and the other one put into operation so that the firstvalve may be removed or repair, it necessary. p l The auxiliary valvesare alike in `arrangement so that "the description ot one ivill suticefor' both. The auxiliary valve comprises a main auxiliary casing 40.having a passageivay aligning with the main valve casing 'outlet 35 enthe'h-igh pressure side. The auxiliary valves are secured to the mainvalve" casing by bolts?) or equivalent means. The casing is providedwith branches 40L at opposite sides adjacent the-top thereof and vpairof branches 4 0b extending laterally from the highland low pressuresides 'o't the rvalve body with the lands or linished surface of each.'setfzof branches preferably lying in a common-plane toi facilitate 'themanufacturing `ot the valve body. A conduit 4l lextendsfirom the inlet'lvto the auxiliary valve chamber 42. This chamber arranged. in the upperportion oit the auxiliary valvecasing is closed at the upper end bymeans ofv asuitable cap 48 and is provided "at theA lower end with aremovable valvese'at l44 on which I show -a suitable valve having adepending stem 47. A spring 46 serves to hold the auxiliary valve 45 toits seat. i

The casing 40 is provided with a passage through which a stein 48extends.` One 'endof ythe stem may `contactjvvith the stem 47 'off thelaiuxiliary valve, While the other end `is headed, as at 50, and theheady is 's'l-iown as resting` on a diaphragm 5l. The *lower surfaceoftthe diaphragm rests upon a bearing block 52 which is normally urgedufi'avvarcl by -a spring y55. This spring is secured Within the casing55, -shown as threaded to the loiver portion of the auxiliary -thecasing 40 and the cap 55.

The portion of the interior of the casing `indicated at 6() above thediaphragm 51 which l term the diaphragm chamber communicates through thepassage 6l with the `opening 36 tothe low pressure side of the mainvalve. It Will thus be apparent, that this diaphragm chamber, when theauxiliary valveis in use, is at all times in communication with the lovvpressure side oi the casing, While the auxiliary valve chamberv 42 is atall-times inL connection with the high pressure sideoi the casing.

The operationoi the device When either one of the auxiliary valves isoperated is as' follows: p

Assuming that a fluid 'underhigh pressure communicates With' the mainvalve inlet, andl that the low pressure side of the reducing valvecommunicates with a suitableoutlet.

`When the pressure Within the outlet Y'alls,'

the pressure in the cli-amber 60 likewiseialls, tluisreducinp; thepressure on the diaphragm and causing the spring` 53 'to inove the stem48 upward. I This -stem 48 bears upon the lower end ot the auxiliaryvalif'e 45 *and consequently uiiseats the latter. High pressure fluid isnow' ,permit-ted to flow beneath the 'auxiliary valve whence' it 'flows,through theI vauxiliary valve chamber into the passageway 65 thenceupto? 'the passage 66,

laterally through the passage 67 and into thev upper portion ot. thepiston chamber.

The -ii'icreased pressure in the piston cham'- ber causesithe piston 25to ymove dovvn thereby pushing the main valve from its seat against thepressure oft the spring and allowing high pressure lfluid Ato passthrough `t-he main valve. port into the outlet side ofthe valve. Fluid`continues topass andthe pressure in the' outlet side continues'toincrease until the pressure. on the ydiaphragm '5l is sufficient toovercome the pressure ot the spring lWhen this occurs, the auxiliaryvalve is seated bythe spring 46 and thus the supply of high pressurefluid to the piston cylinder 26 is cut ofi'. The 'spring i 2O-tlienviiorces the main valve 14 to its seat.

In the useoil reducing valves, it Afrequently becomes vnecessary toregi'ind the -valves or to entirely v'replace themai'id my improvedstructure is vpartic'ulaily Well adapted to these repairs. Vhen it isdesired lto gri-nd the auxiliary valve, the cap 43, closing theupperie'nd'ot the auxiliary valve Cil main valve 14 may be ground, thestem 16 being slotted at its end 76 to facilitate this grinding action.

Both valve seats of the auxiliary valve 44 and the main valve 15 areindicated vas removable so that should the seats become unduly worn, theold one can be removed andr a new one inserted without trouble. Thisgreatly adds to the life of the reducing valve.

It frequently happens that solid material or other foreign substancescollect in the high pressure side of the reducing valve. To allow theremoval of this material, I provide a plug 77 which may be threaded intothe lower portion of the inlet so that upon removal of the plug, theforeign matter may be blown out or otherwise removed.

One of the troublesome features occurd` ring in connection with the useof reducing valves lies in the fact that particles of solid matter findtheir way to the auxiliary valve seat and thus seriously interfere withkthe operation of this valve. To overcome this difficulty, I have foundthat the use of a strainer, such as indicated at 78 placed in thecommunicating line between the low pressure seat of the valve and theauxiliary valve serve to remove all trouble from this source. A threadedplug 79 may serve to hold the strainer 78 in place.

Then the reducing valve is initially installed, one of the auxiliaryvalves will be placed in communication with the main valve while theother will be inactive. To control these valves so that one may be cutoff and the other placed in'use, I provide suitable cut ofi valves shownas threaded rods 80, 81, and 82 having coned ends which are adapted tofit cone valve seats lin the communicating passages. The valves 8Ocontrol the flow of high pressure fluid to the cylinder 26, valves 81control the low pressure line to the auxiliary valve and valves 82control the high pressure to the auxiliary valve. 83, 84 and 85 serve torender the valves leali-proof. lVhen it isdesired to place one of theauxiliary valves out of commission, the valves 80, 81 and 82 on one sidewill be screwed short', while the valves 80, 81 and 82 on the other sidewill be opened; thus shutting oft1 communication between the line andauxiliary valve and opening the line to the other. i

The main valve 14, it will be noted, is provided with a small projectinglip 90; this lip, when the valve works towards its closed position,prevents the valve from closing with a sudden jar since the pressure,when the valve is-closing will gradually be cut oif as more of the liprenters the lvalve ort. p In order that the auxiliary valve and theSuitable packing glandsy associated parts may be lubricated, if

desired, I may provide a suitable grease cup provide acasingA 92 for theexposed portionv of this adjusting screw. This casing -is provided witha lug 93 which is adapted` to cooperate with a companion lug 94 carriedon the spring casing 55. These lugs are provided with aligned apertures95 through which a suitable locking means such as a padlock, may besecured to thereby prevent unauthorized persons from tampering with theadjusting screw.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have devised areducing valve which is extremely simple in construction, which can beeconomically manufactured and which can very easily be maintained inservice condition.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a reducing valve, amainf valve, a plurality of auxiliary valves controlling passagewaysfo-rmed in the main and auxiliary valves to extend from the high and lowpressure sides of the main valve and means operated independently of theauxiliary valve for closing the passageways whereby one of saidauxiliary 'valves may be bodily removed from associationy with the mainvalve while said main valve remains in service.

2. In a reducing valve, ya casing, a main fluid control valve therein,an auxiliary valve adapted to operate said main valve and means forpermitting placement of a second auxiliary valve in active relation tothe main valve including a shut-off valve controlling passagewaysextending between the high and low pressure sides of the main valve.

3 In a reducing valve, a main valve casing, a main valve therein, a pairof auxiliary valves, mounted on the casing, each auxiliary valve adaptedto cooperate with said main valve, and other valve means adapted torender said auxiliary valve active or inactive at will.

4. In a reducing valve, a main valve casing, a main vale therein, anauxiliary valve mounted on the casing, said auxiliary valve adapted tocooperate with said main valve, and means to secure a second auxiliaryvalve to said casing while the first remains in position including aplurality of valves contro-lling passageways from the auxiliary valve tothe main valve whereby *either auxiliary valve may be rendered inactive.

5. n a reducing valve, al mainvalve, :a pair o'fauxiliary. yvalvesremovably mounted thereon, eaeh adapted to lcommunicate* with andoperate said main `valveand means to control eominunieation'betweenveither auxilin .an outlet line to "cause highk pressure steamito Opensaid 4main valve `and manually operated mean-s for rendering either orboth auxiliary. valves inactive byvelosing v said `passagevi/lays.

7. ln a reducing valve, Iamain valve Casvingya -pairfof auxiliary valvesnifountedfon the main valveeasing, said mainvalve bef ing'normallyvheldon its seat bya spring, a piston*oonneot-ed to sarclurra-invalve, a

cylinderinithe main valve'feasing, in'which said piston is mounted,means to ailordeonr munieatienbetween the high pressure.` inlet and theupper portion of said cylinderyand means whereby either one yof vsaid`auxiliary valves may open communication between the cylinderV and thehigh vpressure `fluid. y

.- i 8. VIn fa reducing valve, .avmain valve 'oasing,:a pluralitylolauxiliaryy valves mounted on opposite 'sideswo'i the Vmain valveleasing, said main valve beingnormarlly held lonits seatby a spring, apistonconneetedto'said mainva'lve, afoylinder in the fmain valve easing,in which `said lpiston is mounted, means to afford communicationbetween'fthe high :pressure inlet andthe .upper portion-,of saidcylinder, said auxiliary valves having communicating openings to thelowA pressuresideoftl're redueng valve, andanean-s to Control the fflowof lfluid ythrough ysaid oommu'nieating openings.

9. In a :reducing valve'a `main valve Cas ing, 'a pair `off auxiliaryvalves and 'easingsl therefor mounted on the main valve easing, lne-ansto 'hold sai-.d main 4valve E'toits seat, il-uid yoperated*means tomove. :said vfv-.al-ve from its' seat,V said last `mentioned [meansbeing' (rendered voperative by .:either @if l'said auxiliaryvalves andvalve means inet-he. malin valvev casing operatively interposed betweenthe auxiliary valves v'and :the fmain, valve wherebyeither one'ofsaid-auxiliary valve casings ymay be @removed while the Amain valveremains in operati-on. n i

R10. In =a reducing'va'lve, a main valve `oasing, anauxiliaryvalve-easing, la communicating p assage between kthe auxiliary valve andthefilow pressure Ysidey oit'said main valve casing, ea secondcommunicatingfpassage betwee'n theauxiliary valve and the thighpressureside of said main valve casing, and

valve meansdisposedfinthe mainlvalve easinglarranged to control thepassage-oi fluid through both of said passages.

1l. Ina reducing valve 'having a main valve easing and an auxiliaryvalve easing, means to afford Communicationbetweenthe auxiliary valveand the low-pressure side of thel easingl and between the auxiliaryvalve and high pressure side of the easing, and means on the main easingto close` .said Communicating means .whereby the auxiliary valvevcan beremoved without shutting-eil ilu'id to .the -fmain valvegcasing.

12. In a reducing valve, afmain valve eas# ing, r'a vvalve therein, :andal pair or auxiliary valves and casings rtherefor attached yto the mainvalve lcasing, there being passageways formed in the main valve easingand in the auxiliary valve easings, whereby eitherauxiliary valve maybef=actuated by the deereasing pressure in van outlet line lte eausehigh pressure steam l'to open said main valve, and two independentshutoff devieesearried'by the'main valve and interposed respectively inthe-auxiliary valve passageways ltorri-led in-the Imain valve casing.

L13. Ina "reducing valve, fasmam valve eas-` ing, Iii-valve therein, andaapair of ,auxiliary valves meunted respectively in "removable oasingssecu-red 'te `the main easing', there being Communicating passageways4between the main valve and auxiliary valxfzes whereby either auxiliaryvalve `may aotfuated l 'by tlhe decreasingpressure-infan outlet'line to"cause, thigh' pressure steam fte open said main-valve, andvalve `@meansmounted in the 1main easing 1for :shutting oliT ioommunieation Atoeitherffauxiliiary valve whereby veitherfone may be removedV .withoutinterruipting"operatiy n of the main valve. I

14. In ared-ueing valve `eem-prisifn'ga-main vialve easing:having:a'high'vpessune inlet -anda reduced :pressure eutlet, ,1a valveport intermediate said inlet and outlet, valve elo's-infgsaid port, said'-valvehaving asteni extending on `both sides thereof, .af springaetingt on said stem and normally urging the'valve'ato its seat,af'cylinden-a piston movable `in said e-ylinderl:and adapted .to

eoaet-withfthe valve stem fto open-said valve, a -`ipa'ir or auxiliaryvalves Asecured 'tofsaid main .valvef easing, 'said` auxiliary -valvesbeing' adapted :'tovoperate :saidfma'in valve, and means 'whereby eitherf one 'of said V`auxiliary valves may lbe kfused fto fepenate said:inain valve. i

l15.I'n :a reducing valve lravinig a `main valve fcasingza 'port Closingeonrmunieatien through "the ;valve easing,- a spring ,pressed valvenormally :holding said valve te r,its

piston 'movable in saideylinder by high pressure steam :to 'open'said-valve, and ,a plurality of auxiliary valves eontrollingithe 4flow'of `high :pressure steam Vto'isaid vpiston,

meansto operate said valves when the pressure in the outlet side of thereducing valve falls below a predetermined point, and means wherebyeither one of said auxiliary valves may be used while the other remainsinactive. p

16. In a reducing valve, a main valve casing, an auxiliary valve casing,communicating passages between the main valve casing and the auxiliaryvalve casing, and means to close said passages, said means comprisingvalve members threaded to the main casing and a packing gland adapted tocooperate with said valve to prevent leakage therethrough.

17. In a reducing valve, a main valve casing having a bevelled shoulderthereon, a removable cylinder in said casing, and means on said cylindercoacting with the bevelled portion of the casing to center the cylinder.

18. In a reducing valve, a main valve casing, an auxiliary valve casing,valve seats therein, a main and an auxiliary valve on said seats, andmeans to afford access to said auxiliary valve, whereby it may be groundwithout removing it from its casing.

19. In a reducing valve, a main valve casing having a wall dividing thecasing into high and low pressure chambers, a valve seat supported bythe wall, a valve closure member coacting therewith, a cylinderremovably positioned in the low pressure chamber of the valve, a pistontherefor, a connecting stem between the piston and valve closure member,a cap on the valve body flanged to maintain the cylinder in rigidrelation with the valve body, said cap having an extension formedthereon acting on an aligned extension formed on the piston for limitingmovement of the piston.

20. In a reducing valve, a main valve casing having' an internal walldividing the casing into a high and low pressure cham.- ber, a removablevalve seat supported by said wall, a valve closure member cooperat` ingwith the valve seat to close communication between the high and lowpressure chambers, a cylinder removably positioned in the low pressurechamber, a piston mounted therein, a. connecting means between thepiston and valve closure member, said valve closure member having asurface thereof formed to present a closing end oblique to the plane ofthe valve seat whereby a gradual closing of the valve is effected whenmoved by the piston.

21. In a reducing valve, a main valve casing having a high and a lowpressure chamber formed therein, auxiliary valves cooperatively arrangedrelative to the main valve and disposed on opposite sides of the mainvalve casing, said main valve casing having branches extending outwardlyfrom the walls of the high and low pressure chambers whereby passagewaysformed in the main valve casing extending from the high and low pressurechambers outwardly through the branches may be aligned with passagewaysformed in the auxiliary valve casings, a valve closure member yieldinglymounted within the main valve casing to close communication between thehigh and low pressure chamber, a piston therefor, a connecting meansbetween the valve closure member and piston whereby the latter operatesthe valve closure member, said main valve casing having other branchesformed thereon on opposite sides thereof and adjacent the cylinderhousing portions of the casing, said auxiliary valve casings havingcomplementary branches formed thereon, there being passageways in thebranches of said casing members whereby when the branches of theauxiliary casing members are superimposed upon the branches of the maincasing, communication is established between the high pressure chamberof the main valve casing and one end of the piston and means forremovably securing the auxiliary valve casings upan the main valvecasing with the respective passageways of the various casing members inalignment.

22. In a reducing valve, a main valve casing having an internal walldividing the casing 'interior into a high and ylow pressure chamber, aremovable valve seat member positioned in said wall, a removablecylinder positioned in the low pressure chamber of the casing, a closurecap clampingly securing the cylinder in position within the casing, a.piston mounted within the cylinder, a valve closure member coacting withthe valve seat to close communication between the high and low pressurechambers, a connecting stem between the piston and valve closure member,a removable bearing for the stem disposed in the low pressure chamber, aspring engaging the stem to maintain the valve closure member seated, ahousing for the spring removably secured to the valve casing, saidhousing constituting a support for said stem bearing member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

GEORGE A. SNYDER.

